Part 29 (1/2)
Or rather it was as though a force fro him on to an unknown end Indeed his next words showed that this was so, for he exclai me into that cave, my lord It o I must Perhaps you would do well to stop outside till I have seen'
”I stepped forward to catch hold of the one mad, as perhaps was the case Before I could lay my hands on him he had run rapidly to the mouth of the cave Of course I followed, but when I reached its entrance the star of light thrown forward by the bull's-eye lantern showed ht yards down the tunnel
Then I heard a terrible hissing noise and Savage exclai: 'Oh! my God!' twice over As he spoke the lantern fell froo out, because, as you know, it is made to burn in any position
I leapt forward and picked it froe was running still farther into the depths of the cave I lifted the lantern above my head and looked
”This hat I saw: About ten paces fro--yes, dancing--first to the right and then to the left, with a kind of horrible grace and to the tune of a hideous hissing her and perceived that beyond hiht or nine feet into the air, nearly to the roof of the tunnel in fact, was the head of the hugest snake of which I have ever heard It was as broad as the bottom of a wheelbarroere it cut off I think it would fill a large wheelbarrohile the neck upon which it was supported was quite as thick asbody behind it, which stretched far away into the darkness, was the size of an eighteen-gallon cask and glittered green and grey, lined and splashed with silver and with gold
”It hissed and swayed its great head to the right, holding Savage with cold eyes that yet seeht
It hissed again and swayed its head to the left, whereon he danced to the left Then suddenly it reared its head right to the top of the cave and so re a little forward, as though he were bowing to the reptile Next instant, like a flash it struck, for I saw its white fangs bury theh fell forward on to his face
Then there was a convulsion of those shi+ning folds, followed by a sound as of bones being ground up in a steaainst the wall of the cave and shut ain it was to see soated like a reflection in a spoon, so on the floor, and stretched out over it the huge serpent studying me with its steely eyes Then I ran; I am not ashamed to say I ran out of that horrible hole and far into the night”
”Sive h I also had been in that cave with its guardian
”There is very little nall after I had drunk the hollands ”I lost my way on the mountain-side and wandered for ainst one of the outers were easy Perhaps I should add that wherever I went on my way down theat me in an unnatural kind of voice That's all”
After this we sat silent for a long while, till at length Hans said in his unht has come, Baas Shall I blow out the candle, which it is a pity to waste? Also, does the Baas wishhis off Bena, as I hope to ood to eat, Baas, if you kno to dress them in the Hottentot way”
CHAPTER XVI
HANS STEALS THE KEYS
A few hours later some of the White Kendah arrived at the house and very politely delivered to us Ragnall's and poor Savage's guns and pistols, which they said they had found lying in the grass on the nall had throay in his flight; all of which articles I accepted without co also Hart called and, after salutations, asked where Bena was as he did not see hination broke out:
”Oh! white-bearded father of liars,” I said, ”you knoell that he is in the belly of the serpent which lives in the cave of the nall in his peculiar English, ”have you been for walk up to hole in hill? Suppose Bena want see big snake He always very fond of snake, you know, and they very fond of him You 'land? Well, he know all about snake now”
”You villain!” exclainall, ”you murderer! I have a mind to kill you where you are”
”Why you choke me, Lord, because snake choke your o where lion live, lion kill you If you go where snake live, snake kill you I tell you not to You take no notice
Now I tell you all--go if you wish, no one stop you Perhaps you kill snake, who knows? Only you no take gun there, please That not allowed
When you tired of this town, go see snake Only, 'ht way to House of Child There another hich you never find”
”Look here,” said Ragnall, ”what is the use of all this foolery? You know very e are in your devilish country It is because I believe you have stolen ion whatever it reat mistake,” replied Hart blandly ”We no steal beautiful lady you ht priestess Also Macumazana here not to look for lady but to kill elephant Jana and get pay in ivory like good business h we no ask you, that all Then you try find temple of our God and snake which watch door kill your servant Why we not kill _you_, eh?”
”Because you are afraid to,” answered Ragnall boldly ”Kill me if you can and take the consequences I am ready”